So many people who are new to fishing share the same common misconception… ‘Sling the line out into the water, a fish will come swimming along and job done.’ That’s why it’s no surprise that beginners spend hours trying their luck and return home with nothing to show for their efforts.
You see, the reason why people fail to catch fish, is because they don’t pay proper attention to the bait. Of course, sufficient technique and know-how are vital, but the bait you utilize is incredibly important. After all, it’s essentially the only connection you’re going to have between the fish and your line. Without an effective bait on the end of your line, no underwater species will be tempted to go anywhere near the hook.
But, it’s not as simple as just chucking any old thing on as bait. You need to carefully decide what to use, because certain fish are attracted to different types of lure. For instance, it’s no good trying to catch a shark with a little saltwater yabbie. Now, we understand how complex it can be to decipher which species love what bait, so we’re here to help you out.
When you’re out at sea, some of the most common fish that’ll be readily available are cod, grouper, snapper and tuna. That’s why we’re going to provide you with some wonderful bait ideas that will have you celebrating in victory in no time at all…
Cod:
When you’re venturing to catch a fully-fledged member of the cod family, you’ll need to capture either the Atlantic, Pacific or Greenland cod. As the names suggest, they tend to call the Atlantic and Pacific oceans their home. If you’ve found a perfect spot which is full of fresh cod, then try out these baits:
Prawns & shrimps, crabs, cunjevoi, live fish (slimy mackerel, mullet, yellowtail) or diced fish flesh
Grouper:
Every type of grouper is beautiful, but you’re literally spoilt for choice when trying to catch a grouper. There’s over 100 variants and they all differ in size and appearance. The Atlantic Goliath may be a test for you though, considering they can grow up to 8-foot in length and weigh up to 800-pound! Although, for any other grouper, try out these baits:
Sardines, frozen squid, pinfish, grunts or white mullet
Snapper:
If you come across one snapper, you can guarantee that there’ll be hundreds more nearby, because they typically roam in crowded schools. To prepare for a busy day of fishing snapper, here are some bait options:
Diced fish flesh, whole dead fish (pilchards, whitebait), cunjevoi, live fish (slimy mackerel, mullet, yellowtail), squid & octopus, shellfish (mussels, clams, oysters), saltwater yabbies or crabs
Tuna:
Tuna is a gorgeous fish that is a prestigious catch for any level of angler. Whether it’s a lovely Yellowfin or an Albacore, you’ll have a tough time reeling one in – some of them can top 550pounds on the scales! Anyway, try out these baits:
Live fish (slimy mackerel, mullet, yellowtail)…chum is very effective.
